Our mission is to decrease the impact of breast cancer through information and peer support, to help provide resources for uninsured women to have mammograms, to provide the newly diagnosed with coping skills, and to help ensure that no woman faces breast cancer alone.

TERRE HAUTE — Drivers on Wabash Avenue looked a bit perplexed as volunteers stood in the middle of the street with paint brushes in their hands.

Wabash Valley Breast Cancer Survivors, Inc. had eight volunteers at the intersection of Wabash Avenue and Sixth Street on Wednesday afternoon, replenishing the pink in the ribbon painted there. The group had initially planned to paint the ribbon Sunday afternoon, but rains throughout the week delayed the annual tradition a few days.

“We do this every year before the ‘Paint the Town Pink’ carnation sale, which is this Friday,” volunteer director Coral Cochran said, paint brush in hand.

This will mark the 10th annual fundraiser for the organization, which sells carnations to raise money for mammograms and wigs on behalf of low-income women throughout the Wabash Valley. Cochran said the group hopes to sell out Friday.

“Thousands and thousands and thousands,” she said of her goal, noting she will be a 25-year cancer survivor in October.

Nancy Buck, a past president of the organization, will be a 15-year survivor in October.

“And we didn’t realize how much traffic would be here,” she said about 5 p.m. Wednesday as traffic swirled around the blockades protecting the painters. “We usually do this on a Sunday afternoon,” she laughed.

“The more money we make, the more mammograms we can pay for.”

Nina Storey, current president of the group, said she is a six-year survivor, diagnosed at age 34. Most women don’t think of breast cancer at that age, she said.

“I think this is a great way to raise awareness,” she said as her 8-year old son, Eli, helped color the roadway ribbon.

By providing mammograms to women who might otherwise not be able to afford them, the group hopes to improve detection times.

Storey added that for fellow survivors, the organization offers a strong support group of people with similar experiences.